CEBU, Philippines – Two men were arrested for robbing a call center agent and injuring a security guard while trying to evade arrest past 7 p.m. last Wednesday on A.S. Fortuna Street, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
Mel Richard Seno, 24, and Leonel Codilla, 22, both residents of Tapoko, Barangay Pit-os were arrested by elements of City Investigation and Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office.
The victim, Piña Luz Catarman, 22, a resident of Cabangahan, Consolacion and working as call center agent of Convergy’s at the Cebu I.T. Park narrated in her affidavit that she was standing in front of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Salinas Drive and was about to go to work when the motorcycle-riding suspects appeared and grabbed her handbag.
The suspects allegedly sped away carrying with them Catarman’s bag that contained a Nokia brand cellular phone worth P18,000; a wallet containing P1,500; ATM and credit cards; company identification card and a perfume worth P19,500.
Luckily, the Tamarax FX service vehicle of the CIIB members led by SPO1 Leopoldo Bauzon happened to pass by the area that prompted the victim to shout for assistance.
Bauzon’s team immediately responded and chased the fleeing suspects, who figured in a vehicular accident after they hit the bicycle of off-duty security guard Edward Rodrigo, 28.
Rodrigo, a security guard connected with Gador Security Agency and presently detailed at Apoloton Craft Master located at A.S. Fortuna, said in his affidavit that he was riding his bicycle on his way home in Tingub, Mandaue City when he was hit by the suspects’ overspeeding red Aura motorcycle. Because of the impact, both vehicles and their passengers fell to the ground.
Rodrigo sustained injuries in his head and was taken by the police to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment. He later learned that the passengers of the motorcycle that hit him were being chased by the police and the City Traffic and Operations Management for the crime of robbery.
On the other hand, the two robbery suspects were arrested and the motorcycle recovered from them was placed under the custody of the Crime Against Property Unit of CCPO.
A charge of robbery with physical injury was filed against the suspects who are now both detained at the CCPO stockade. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)